Electric safety device for automobiles



Oct. 30, 1928.

L. O. CALLISTER ELECTRIC SAFETY DEVICE FOR AUTOMOBILES Filed April 19, 1926 3 Sheets-Sheet l K 3 1L1 3 1 Hr] 1 3 Hr Ground Wire INVENTOR. I. 0. Ca/hsfer TTORNEYJ Oct. 30, 1928.

L. o. CALLISTER ELECTRIC SAFETY DEVICE FOR AUTOMOBILES Filed A r il 19, 1926 I 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 I N V EN TOR.

I. O. Call/'sfzr A TTORNEYJ L. O. CALLISTER ELECTRIC SAFETY DEVICE FOR AUTOMOBILES Qct. 30, 1928.

Filed April 19, 1926 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 IIIII IIIIIIIIIIIIII: WA

I r I INVENTOR. M I. 0. 60/0512 BY Z T Patented Get. 30, 1 928.

UNITED STATES 1,689,715 PATENT. OFFICE.

LEE 0. CALLISTER, or SHERIDAN, WYOMING, .assroivo-n- F ONE-HALF To ARTHUR W. DOYLE, or SHERIDAN, WYOMING.

ELECTRIC QAFETY DEVICE FOR AUTOMOBILES.

Application filed April 19, 1928. Serial No. 193,184.

The present invention has as its general object to prevent collisions of motor driven road vehicles and trains at grade crossings. Means are provided whereby, upon the entrance of a train into a track section withinan established distance 01 the roadwa the motor of an automobile or the like, which is approaching will be automatically stopped. The roadway is equipped with a pair of spaced conductors, each in electrical connection with one of the rails of the railway track and the automo bile is equipped with contacters depending from the frame of the machine and so spaced as to be adapted to co-operate with the roadway conductors. If these conductors or tech ers are in contact with the conductors and a train enters the prescribed section, an electric circuit is completed which, through means to be particularly described hereinafter, switches o li' the itLltOll'lObllG'lDOtOI' and gives appropriate warning signals to the driver.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is aplan view of a grade crossing showing highway conductors.inposition. I

Fig. 2 is a side elevation ofFig. 1., taken li'mgitudinally of the highway and showing an automobileprovided with feelers for contacting-with the highway conductors.

Fig. 3 is a lace view oi the casing in which the operating mechanismis housed.

Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic view showing the feelers in circuit with their co-operating mechanism. i

Fig. 5 is a section on the line 5 5 of Fig Fi 6 is a section on the line 66 ofFig Fig. 7 is View similar to Fig. 5 showing the parts in dillercnt relation.

Fig. 8 shows an automobilebrake lever.

adapted to act as a circuit breaker.

Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference characters denote likeparts in the several views, A represents a highway-and B an intersecting railway track. At the right of the highway are disposed conductors 10 and. 11 which are of considerable length and parallelly spaced apartat such distance'as to bring them within the gage of an auton'lobile. These conductors may be constituted by old railroad rails and preferably will stand four inches or so above the road surface. The rail 10 is connected by means of'an electric cable 1 witl rail 13 of the track, while rail 11 is connected by meansof a cable 14 with the rail 1.5 of the track. A certain portion of the railroad track for a desired distance at either side of the highway is insulated from the track as a whole as indicated at 16 and 17.

Referring to Figs. 2 and 1 feelers 18 and 19 depend from the automobile frame, 18 being connected directly thereto and 19 being lnsulated therefrom. i These feelers consist of re.-

silient metal arms spaced apart at substanstraddles the rails 10'and 11 contact will be made between the respective brushes and rails.

Referring now to Figs. 3, and 5 to 7 particularly, 24 represents a base of suitable material attached by means of screws 25 to the. dash 26 of the automobile. At one side of this base and, if the base be of conductive material, insulated therefrom, is a post 27 horizontally bent at-its top as may be seen particularly in Fig. l. Pivoted to the angular portion of post 27 and retained thereon by means of a nut 28 is an armature 29. Also fixed to the. base 24 is an upright member 30 having its upper portion bent at right-angles and extending in the same direction as the angular portion of post 27. Thishorizontal portion 31 (Fig. (3') extends above armature 29 and is connected by means of a tension spring 32.to the latter. The horizontal portion 31 is obliquely bent transversely, as shown in Fig. 5, and is providedin the vertical swinging Thus under the influence of s )rin 32 arma- 'ture 29 \villnormarlly be held in abutment with contact 33. Post 27 is connected by cable 3-1 to the ignition switch ofthc automobile and the upright 30. which is, of course, of conductive material, is connected by. cable 35 to the engine distributor. In other words post 27, ari'nature 29 and upright '30 are inteiposcd in the circuit leading from the engine switch to the timer, as here shown but these members may beinserted at any convenient place in the ignition circuit.

Innnediately benc-atlrthe armature 29 is secured an electro-magnet 3 The coil of this magnet is in connection at one end, as at 37, with post 27 and the other end ofthe coil in connection, as at 38, with, a bracket 39 secured to an insulated upright -10. The

angular arm ll of bracket 39 carries a Contact As shown in Figs. to 7, bracket 4-8 pivoted at e9 to arm 47, said lever having a pair of jaws ofwhich the upper, in the position of parts shown in Figs. 5 and 6, lies 7 just outside the path of travel of armature 29 while the lo is adapted to be abutted by the armature in its downward travel. A pin :B-lon lever 48 is connected by means of a tension'spring 52 to a lug on pedestal 410. Pin 51 is so arranged with respect to pivot 4L9 and lug 4:5 that upon swinging lever 49 from the position shown in Figs. 5 and 6 to that of Fig. 7 the longitudinal axis of the spring will pass from the right of pivot l9 to the left thereof. lon e uently, as may be seen Clearly from 6, in the upper limit position of the jaws, spring acts to retain them in such position, while when the axis of spring 52 passes to the left through pivot 49, the jaws will be drawn dowi'iwardly; Any suitable abutment may be provided to restrain the upward movement of the aws and as shown, tail 53 of lever 49 may abut the lower edge F l of a slot formed in the wall of casin g 56, through which the tail projects. As shown in Fig. l the arm 47 which supports lever 48 is connected by means of a conductor 57 to the car-frame at and an electric light 61 and suitable electric horn 62 are interposed in this circu t which may be coirtrolled by means of switch 63. 7

Conductor 34L leads through engine switch 64- to a pole of a battery or other suitable source of electrical energy 65, the other pole of which is grounded to the car frame and hence is in connection with feeler l8.

Pivotally. mounted on a pedestal 66 is an angle lever ex; tending transversely relative to armature29. iii-11168 of, this lever is connected with the end of armature 29 bymeans of a suitably articulated link (39 insulated therefrom. The other arm 79 of lever (57 is provided with anangular extension 71 whose plane is substantially tangential to its arc of travel. As shown in Fig. 3,extension 71 has the word Stop suitably marked thereon. and light 61 is so disposed to illuminate this member when it is exhibited. -Finally armature 29 provided with an abutment member 7 2 insulated therefrom by n'ieans of washers 7'3. The are of travel of abutment 72 upon oscillation of armature 29 intersects resilient arm 44:.

If now, an automobile equipped with the above described devices comes into the highway A so that its feelers Contact with con.-

ductors 10 and 11 and a trainis in the section in connection with these conductors, a circuit will be completed between the rails 13 and 15 through the wheels and axles of the car and magnet 39will be energized. The circuit in which magnet 36 isincluded may be traced'as follows :-battery through switch 6% and post 27 bracket 39, arm a l, pedestal 45, conductor 4:6, feeler l9, rail 10, conductor 12, rail 13, rail 15, conductor ll, rail 11, feeler 18, to the ear frame. The energization of the magnet causes armature 29 to be drawn down into the positionsh'own in Fig. 7. During the last portion of the travel of armature 29, abutment 72 strikes arm i l and the outer end of the armature strikes lower jaw 50. Thus "arm l lis forced out of contact with bracket 239 and love i8 is swung about its pivot and the upper aw 59 is brought into contact w th V the armature and held ingsuch position byspring whose longitudinal axis'has passed to the left of pivot 4-9. It will be noted that the circuit now passes from the battery through armature 29, lever L8 and arm 47 to conductor 5'? and through switch 63, which; is norn'ially closed, to the car frame. Thus lamplil will be lighted and horn 62 will be actuated until switch 63 is opened, and in the mean tiinethe ignition circuit, of course, re mains broken due to the position of armature As shown in Figs. 5 to 7, arm 47 is integral with conductor bracket 39 to which one end of the magnet coil is attached. Thus, the magnet will. be connected in parallel with the circuit 1 just described and will continue to attractarmature 29. Upon opening switchtSS themagnet will be deenergiaed and if spring is stronger than spring 52 the parts will be automatically returned to the position shown in Fig. 5. as illustrated in Fig. at, however, arm 4'7 is not in connection with bracket 39 and hence upon separation of contact points i2 and 4-3, magnet 36 will be cut outof circuit. In this form, therefore, spring 52 must overpower spring 32 in order that jaw 50 niay'retain the armature in its lower position against the influence of the latter spring. Upon opening switch 68, consequently, the parts will not automatically return to the position shown in Fig. 5, and to return them. tail 53 of the lever 48 must be manually actuated I It will be noted from Fig. that the face T4- 7 of casing 56 is provided with a window '75 of transparentmaterial. ii-is lever 67 is rocked by means of linlr69 upon the descent irmature 29 extension 71 is brought in regis er with the window in a position to be clearly illumh nated by lamp 61.

- In Fig. 8 I have shown a brake lever 76 mounted in the usual. manner upon a shaft T7 whichv is in connection with the ear framev The switch 63 may consist of a'tongue '58 fastened beneath the floor of the car an d in a position to contact normally with lever 76. Conductor 57 being in connection with tongue 78, the actuating circuit for the lamp and horn will be broken as soon as the operator applies the brake and removes lever 76 from contact with tongue 78. This arrangement is desirable in that the operator. will instinctively apply the brakes as soon as his attention is attracted by the signaling devices and inasmuch as the usefulness otthe latter has past upon such application they may be appropriately cut out. i

From the above itwill be apparent thatmy invention consists broadly in providing a ci1;-. cuit adapted to be closed upon the slmirltane. ous presence of a motor driven roadway ve hicle and a railway vehicle inroad and track zones adjacent a grade crossing whereby the circuit being closed the motor of the roadway vehicle is stopped. Simultaneously upon cut-- ting outthe motor this first circuit broken and a second more direct circuit is closedv which actuates signalling devices until the brake of the motor vehicle is applied by the operator. As shown in Fig. 1, conductors 10 and 11 are disposed at the right of the high way at either side Offtlle track relative to an approaching vehicle. Thus, a vehicle which has already crossed the track will not he ali'ectedby the entrance of a railway vehicle into the insulated track sect-ion or Zone. It will, of course, be understood that the lengths of rails 10 and 11 and the length of the insulated track section will only be governed by considerations of safety. If, for instance, there were separate trackways B for trains traveling in opposite directions, insulators 17 could be positioned directly adjacent the side of the hi ghway in the receding direction of the train.

. l Vhile I have shown and described specific embodiments of the various elements consti tuting my invention, it will, of course, be understood that the scope of my invention is in no sense restricted thereby, but is to be con;

stru-ed from the following claims.

I claim:

1. In a device of the kind described, highway conductors in electrical. connection with railway track rails, contact means on a highway motor vehicle adapted to contact with said conductors, motor control means on the vehicle, and actuating means for said control means in circuit with said contact members, whereby said contact members being in contact with said conductors and a railway vehicle being on said rails, a circuit is completed through said actuating means and said control means is operated to cutout the motor of the roadway vehicle.

2. A device of the kind described, comprising a pair oi? conductors on the roadway surface each in electrical connection respectively with the rails of an insulated track section, a pair oi contact members on the roadway:

vehicle adapted to contact respectively with said conductors,motor control. means on said roadway vehicle, actuating'meanstorsaid control means in circuit with said contact members, and asource of electrical energyin said circuit, whereby said contact members being in contact with said roadway conductors and a railway vehicle being in said in sulated section, a circuit is closed through said actuating means, whereby said control means is operated for arrestingsaid motor.

3. Apparatus accordingto claim 2, wherein the motor of the roadway vehicle is of the internal combustionengine type and the motor control means comprises a switch disposed in'the ignition circuit of the motor.

i. In combination with a motor driven roadway vehicle having motor control means there-on an actuator for said motor control means, and an electro-magnet adapted upon energization to attract said actuator whereby said motor control means is actuated to arrest the motor, said magnet being in a circuit closed upon the presence of the roadway vehicle and a railway vehicle in predetermined zones adjacent a grade crossing, and a sign displaying device on the roadway vehicle operative upon the closing of said circuit.

5. In combination with a motor driven roadway vehicle having motor control means thereon, an actuator for saidmotor control means, and an electro-magnet adapted upon energization to attract said actuator whereby said motor control means is actuated to arrest the motor, said magnet being in a circuit closed upon the presence of the roadway vehicle and a railway Vehicle in predetermined zones adjacent a grade crossing, and a sign displaying device on the roadway vehi cle actuated independence upon the movement of said actuator.

6. In combination with a motor driven roadway vehicle having motor control means thereon, an actuator for said motor control means, and an electro-magnet adapted upon energization to attract said actuator whereby said motor control means is actuated to arrest the motor, said. magnet being in cir cuit closed upon the presence of the roadway vehicle and a railway vehicle in nedetermined zones ad acent a grade crossing, means for breaking said circuit upon the displacement of said actuator toward said magnet,

and moans'for retaining said actuator inv displaced position.

Ii -combination with a motor driven roadway veh cle having motor control mear,v thcreon,an actuator tor said motor control means, and an electro-magnet adapted upon energizat-ion to attract said actuator whereby said motor control n'ieans is actuated to arrest the motor, said magnet being in a circuitclosed upon the presence of the roadway vehicle and a railway vehicle in prcdetermined zones adjacent a grade crossing, a sign in connection with said actuator and displayed upon the displacement of the latter arrest the motor, said magnet being in a cirl0v Quit closed; upon the presence of the roadway vehicle and a railway vehicle in predetermined zones adjacent a grade crossing, means for breaking said circuit operated by said actuator upon its displacement toward said magnet and means for retaining said actuator in displaced position.

9. In combination with a motor driven roadway vehicle having motor control means thereon, an actuator .for said motor control means, and an electi'o-n'iagnet adapted upon energization to attractsaid actuator whereby said motor control means is actuated to arrest the'motor, said magnet being in a circuit closed upon the presence of the roadway vehicle and a railway vehicle in predetermined Zones adjacent a grade crossing, means for breaking said circuit upon the displacement of said actuator toward said magnet,

means for retaining said actuator in dis placed position, a second circuit closed by said actuator inits displaced position, and a signalling device operated upon the closing of said second circuit.

10. In) combination with a motor driven roadway vehicle having motor control means thereon, an actuator forsaid motor control means, and an electro-niagnet adapted upon energization to attract said actuator whereby said motor control means is actuated to arrest the motor, said magnet being in a circuit closed upon the presence of the roadway vehicle and a railway vehicle inpredetermined Zones adjacent a grade crossing, means for breaking said circuit'upon the displace ment of said actuator towar d said magnet,

means for retainingsaid actuator in dis placed position, asecond circuit closed by said actuator in its displaced pOSltlOIl,'ilIlCl a sound producing device operated upon the closing of said second circuit.

11. In combination with a motor driven roadway vehicle having motor control means tiveupon the closing of said circuit, a second circuit closed upon the movement of said actuator, and a lamp in said circuit adapted to illumine the sign. v I

actuator, a lamp in said'circuit adaptedto illume the sign, and a sound producing-device in said second circuit.

13. The combination with a railroad track and a motor vehicle, of .a pair of ramps arranged in the path of the vehicle when approaching the track at a crossing, contact members carried by the vehicle to'move over said ramps in contact therewith, electrical means on the vehicle connected to said contact members and arranged for stopping the vehicle, and bridging means for said raii'ips controlled by a train approaching'the cross.

ing on said traclrto'control said electrical means when the'contactliiiembers move over saidramps.

14. The combination with a railroad track and a motor vehicle, of a pair of ramps arranged in the path of thevvehicle when ap proaching the track at a crossing, contact members carried by the vehicle to move over said ramps in contact therewith, electrical means on the vehicle connected to said contact iiiembersand arranged for stopping'the vehicle when said contact members are bridged, and means forbridging said ramps when a train approaches the crossing on said track. V i 15. The combination with a railroad tracl; and a motor vehicle, of a pair oi ramps arranged in the path of the vehicle when ap proaching the track on a road,means controlled by the presence of a train on the track for bridgingsaid ramps, contact members carried by the vehicle to move over said ramps in contact therevith, and. electrical means on the vehicle connected to said contact members and arranged "for bringing the vehicle to a stop when are bridged, r

16. The combination with a. rialroad tract: and a motor vehicle, of contactmeans ar ranged in the path of the. vehiclewhenapproaching the track at a crossing. contact said contact members ion means on the vehicle to engage the first named contact means, electric-a means connected to the second-named contact means and having provisions for stopping the vehicle by the completion. of an electrical circuit including the first/named and secondnamed contact means, and means connected to the first-named contact means and operable for completing said circuit when a train approaches the crossing on the track.

17. In a grade crossing safety system for preventing collisions between a roadway motor vehicie and a railway vehicle, an electric circuit on the motor vehicle closed upon the presence of the motor vehicle and a railway 'ehicle in predetermined zones adjacent the crossing, a brake lever on the motor vehicle and a braking means for said circuit operated upon operation of said brake lever.

18. In combination with a motor driven roadway vehicle having motor control means thereon, an actuator "for said motor control means, and an electro-magnet adapted upon energization to attract said actuator whereby said motor control means is actuated to arrest the motor, said magnet being in a circuit closed upon the presence of the roadway vehicle and a raiiway vehicle in predetermined Zones adjacent a grade crossing. means for breaking said circuit upon the displacement of said actuator toward said magnet, means for retaining said actuator in displaced position, a second circuit closed by said actuator in its displaced position, a signalling device operated upon closing of said second circuit, a brake lever on said motor vehicle, and

breaking means for said second. circuit operated upon operation of said brake lever.

Intestnnony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

LEE 0. CALLISTE R. 

